rewrite this content and keep HTML tags
The third edition of the Ballislife NBA MVP Ladder remains largely unchanged, save for a replacement in the fifth-place spot. Like last year, it already appears that the two generational frontrunners are pulling ahead of the pack.
1. Nikola Jokić
Nikola Jokić remains at the top of the ladder after posting perhaps his most ridiculous two-week stretch in a season that could very well go down as his best when it’s all said and done. Since Dec. 5, Jokić has scored at least 35 points in three of the Nuggets’ last four games, including a 39-point triple-double with 15 rebounds and 10 assists against the Houston Rockets on Monday.
Nikola Jokic and SGA have opened a big gap (again) in the MVP race, per HoopsHype’s Global Rating. pic.twitter.com/Hfv5XSihaE
— HoopsHype (@hoopshype) December 12, 2025
Not only is Jokić getting it done individually, but the Nuggets are also arguably the hottest team in the NBA right now. The three-time MVP put together another 23-point triple-double in a blowout over the Orlando Magic on Thursday, which was the Nuggets’ sixth win in a row and their seventh in eight games.
2. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, OKC Thunder
The Thunder slipped up for just the second time this season against the Spurs in the NBA Cup semis on the Las Vegas Strip on Saturday, but they quickly proved it was a fluke with a 21-point win over the Los Angeles Clippers on Thursday, in which Shai Gilgeous-Alexander tallied 32 points despite sitting out the fourth quarter… again. If you’re counting, SGA already has 20 games with at least 30 points this season, and he’s only played the fourth quarter in 13 of the Thunder’s 27 games so far.
🏀 THURSDAY’S FINAL SCORES 🏀
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander notches his league-leading 20th 30-point game of the season as the @okcthunder improve to 13-0 at home!
Chet Holmgren: 22 PTS, 7 REBJalen Williams: 20 PTS, 5 AST, 2 STLAjay Mitchell: 16 PTS, 7 REB, 5 AST, 2 STL https://t.co/iIGbIOJ2ie pic.twitter.com/kjc4nKEb9v
— NBA (@NBA) December 19, 2025
At 25-2, the Thunder are officially tracking toward potential NBA history and are a definitive threat to the Warriors’ regular-season win record at this rate. It’s hard to imagine a world where SGA doesn’t win MVP if they break that record, but then again, it’s hard to imagine half the insane things Jokić does on a weekly basis as well. What a treat this race is shaping to be for the second consecutive year.
3. Luka Dončić, LA Lakers
In almost every other year of Luka Dončić’s career and in most other years in NBA history as a whole, he would be the surefire NBA front-runner and the Lakers would be the talk of the town. Instead, his 34.7 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 8.8 assists per game place him in a humble third place on the ladder, and all the chatter in the West is seemingly directed at the Thunder’s dominance and Jokic’s generational run.
Luka Doncic is the first player in Lakers history to record:
45+ PTS10+ AST5+ STL pic.twitter.com/l1eI34ggSm
— Real Sports (@realapp) December 19, 2025
It’s clear Luka is the engine that makes the Lakers go. Despite a relatively rough couple of weeks, it’s evident he’s in the best shape of his career, and he’s the guy that both a 40-year-old LeBron and a 27-year-old Austin Reaves can count on to be Batman while they play dueling forms of Robin.
4. Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons
The Knicks may have taken home the NBA Cup earlier this week, but the first two months of the season have shown us that the Pistons are living up to the billing as this year’s Pacers in the Eastern Conference. Hell, they might be better, and they might just have the best player in the conference in Cade Cunningham.
Two-way star Cade Cunningham leads all NBA players (Min. 300 DFA) this season–boasting a 40.8% Defended FG%. Cunningham has held shooters to 130-of-319 from the field as the primary defender. Cunningham also leads the NBA with four games of 15+ PTS, 5+ AST, 2+ STL and 2+ BLK. pic.twitter.com/83LOVrhVte
— Pistons PR (@Pistons_PR) December 15, 2025
Cunningham has only continued his elevation from All-Star to MVP candidate in recent weeks, leading the Pistons to four straight wins since Dec. 5. Cunningham has tallied at least 20 points and 10 assists in the Pistons’ last two wins, including 32 and 10 in a 112-105 win against the Boston Celtics on Monday.
5. Tyrese Maxey, Philadelphia 76ers
The fifth spot on the ladder has been where the real action has been all season, and this week brings another new face to the party. Tyrese Maxey has the Sixers playing competitive hoops at 14-11 overall, and he ranks in the top 10 in both scoring with 31.5 points per game (third) and 7.4 assists per game (ninth).
THE RISE OF TYRESE MAXEY 📈
Averaging 32.5 PPG (3rd in NBA), Maxey’s scoring ability has been on full display and his steady climb has turned into superstar production for Philly!
Don’t miss the 76ers take on the Warriors tonight at 7:00pm/et on NBA TV. pic.twitter.com/Lo13Q5jXeq
— NBA (@NBA) December 4, 2025
The uncertainty surrounding Joel Embiid has made Maxey the top dog in Philly at this point, and that’s a role he carries even when the big fella is on the court. Granted, Embiid is still trying to work his way back into the same stratosphere he was in before knee injuries plagued his last two seasons. No need to fear, though. Maxey is here for Philadelphia, and they look like a playoff contender in the East when he plays the way he has been.
